Whitefish Mountain Resort announced Friday it plans to purchase a chairlift and begin clearing timber for new runs and a line on the north side of the ski area.
The Flower Point project, set to begin this summer, will add roughly 200 acres of lift-served skiing, including 32 acres of cleared runs, additional gladed areas and a fixed-grip triple chairlift. The project will be constructed in two phases and be completed for the 2014-2015 winter season, according to the resort.
“We are delighted to begin work on the Flower Point lift and trail system this summer and provide lift access to more terrain,” Whitefish Mountain Resort President Dan Graves said in a statement. “The lift increases access to an area of our mountain known for having the most consistent snow coverage and will provide quality skiing in early and late season.”
The first phase of the project will include the purchase of a chairlift. Timber clearing will begin mid-summer and most of the work is expected to be completed by this fall. Concrete work for towers may also occur in this phase. The second phase will begin summer 2014 when towers will be erected and terminals installed.
Four new runs and two connector runs will be added to the areas currently known as Stumptown and Window Pane. The runs are expected to be intermediate level and will be kept fairly narrow with tree islands and feathered edges to maintain a natural feel and experience. The six runs will be named to help guests and ski patrol identify their location in the area.
“The new lift and trails will greatly enhance the guest experience at Whitefish Mountain Resort by providing a stand-alone pod of skiing which helps to spread out skiers across the resort,” Graves said. “Flower Point also offers breathtaking views into the North Fork region of Glacier National Park.”
The additional acreage is located within Whitefish Mountain Resort’s special use permit area, however has been considered out-of-bounds to guests and will remain so until the project is complete.